Wembanyama nearing his return: will he play against the Thunder?

San Antonio has pushed forward without Victor Wembanyama, but the moment for his comeback finally seems to have arrived. After four weeks sidelined with a left calf injury, the Frenchman has started “pushing really hard” again, fueling the possibility of seeing him back on the court as early as this weekend, right in the middle of the race for the Emirates NBA Cup.

On Wednesday night, after beating the Lakers 132–119 to secure a semifinal berth against Oklahoma City, coach Mitch Johnson hinted that his return is now just a matter of days:

Very likely. He had a busy day and worked hard this morning. Now we need to see how he responds tomorrow

Mitch Johnson

His steady progress in recent days – including pregame work against New Orleans – suggests the countdown is nearly over. And the schedule helps: on Saturday, in Las Vegas, the Spurs face the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in a semifinal that grants access to Tuesday’s final.

A team that has grown without its star

On one hand, Wembanyama’s return is an immediate upgrade; on the other, the Spurs have shown they’re not dependent on their phenom. The record says it clearly: 9–3 without Wemby, and a team that’s finding identity, balance, and depth.

Johnson put it simply:

Victor would say we have a deep team. He’s the biggest piece of the puzzle, but you need all the others to complete it

Mitch Johnson

A message that perfectly reflects the current reality: San Antonio has built a credible, improving collective capable of holding its own even without its generational talent.

Now there’s only one question

The Spurs have shown personality, depth, and ambition. Adding Wembanyama back into the equation could turn a surprising run into something more concrete. If the Frenchman is indeed available Saturday, the semifinal against the Thunder takes on an entirely different dimension.

And for the first time after some difficult years, San Antonio can truly think big.